Released 36 years ago this October
This Christmas
Patti LaBelle · 1990
45 min · 11 tracks · rhythm and blues
A soulful holiday album that blends classic festive motifs with LaBelle's powerful, emotive vocal delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
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This Christmas Start here — The title track reimagines the classic with a vibrant arrangement and showcases LaBelle's dynamic vocal range, making it an immediate standout.
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O Holy Night — LaBelle delivers a breathtaking performance on this traditional hymn, using her vocal agility to convey deep emotion and reverence.
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'Twas Love — 'Twas Love combines heartfelt lyrics with rich harmonies, demonstrating LaBelle's ability to merge contemporary R&B with classic holiday themes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
LaBelle's vocal prowess shines in this soulful holiday album, blending tradition with her unique style.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a powerful rendition of 'This Christmas', featuring layered vocal harmonies and a full orchestral arrangement.
- LaBelle's vocal delivery is consistently emotive, often employing dynamic shifts that enhance the emotional weight of each track.
- Several tracks incorporate traditional holiday motifs, while others feature original compositions that blend seamlessly into the festive theme.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady festive listening experience
- nostalgic holiday warmth
- soulful melodies for gatherings
- cozy background for celebrations
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tracks
- prefer modern sounds
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A solid holiday album that complements her catalog without being a major breakthrough.
- Themes
- holiday nostalgia· soulful warmth· Christmas longing
- Career context
- Released in 1990, This Christmas came shortly after Patti LaBelle's successful 'Burnin'' album from 1982, marking her return to the studio after years of touring and performing. This project allowed her to showcase her vocal prowess in a festive context, further solidifying her status as a versatile artist capable of crossing genres.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gladys Knight· Aretha Franklin· Chaka Khan
Tracklist
- 1 This Christmas Start here 4:17
- 2 'Twas Love 3:45
- 3 Nothing Could Be Better 3:24
- 4 If Everyday Could Be Like Christmas 4:57
- 5 I'm Christmasing With You 3:38
- 6 What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? 4:29
- 7 Reason for the Season 5:03
- 8 Country Christmas 4:14
- 9 Born in a Manger 3:22
- 10 O Holy Night 4:34
- 11 Wouldn't It Be Beautiful 3:59
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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